Conrad Maldives Rangali Island

Conrad Maldives Rangali Island spreads across two natural islands in South Ari Atoll, so the ceremony and the party can happen in quite different settings. The resort lists 14 places to eat and drink, from the Ithaa Undersea Restaurant to the Aaraha Champagne Bar and Rantheli Beach Club.

Weddings here are celebratory blessings, not legal marriages, as the resort explains for all Maldives ceremonies. It offers both weddings and vow renewals, with a brochure to download. Seaplane or speedboat transfers are compulsory and priced separately from villas, so the journey is part of the plan. The seaplane takes about 30 minutes and flies from 6am to 3.30pm, while the speedboat route takes four to five hours.

Two packages are published. Dharivaa centres on a ceremony under a floral gazebo, with personal planning and a decorated bed. Mihama opens with a floating breakfast and a couple's massage, then a ceremony with a scenic backdrop and a sunset cruise. Every package includes a couple's spa treatment, a cake, decorations, a photographer and a romantic dinner by the beach. Extras include tropical flowers and a traditional Maldivian drum procession, and the suggested itinerary ends with a ring exchange at sunset. Weddings here welcome up to 150 guests. Ask the team about ceremony spots and the music curfew.

Guests choose from overwater villas, beach villas and family villas, from Sunset Water Villas to the two-bedroom Rangali Ocean Pavilion and the three-bedroom Beach Suite. The Muraka, the undersea residence, is set over two levels, so ask the team about it for your dates. Between events, dining runs from KOKO and Sunset Grill to Vilu, Mandhoo, Ufaa and Atoll Market, so a group with mixed tastes is easy to feed. Transfers are mandatory for every guest and charged on top of villas, so build them into the guest budget early. Ask the team how many villas can be held.